KUALA LUMPUR: A syndicate offering its services on predicting lottery numbers has been detected in Kuala Lumpur, actively seeking customers by sending out WhatsApp messages.

The syndicate, which has previously relied on sending out flyers to postboxes, has since gone digital in a bid to lure more victims.

Its latest trick revolves around an individual, who calls himself ‘Haji Ando’, who offers lottery number prediction services, on the condition that the victim places a deposit first.

A bank staff, Yunos Md Alif, 32, said he received an invitation to participate in the exercise from an unknown man a week ago.

Haji Ando, who claimed he was from Indonesia, told him he had the ability to accurately predict lottery numbers.

Its latest trick revolves around an individual, who calls himself ‘Haji Ando’, who offers lottery number prediction services, on the condition that the victim places a deposit first. Pix courtesy of KL police Commercial Crimes Department

“I contacted the number and spoke with the man, who confirmed that he offered such a service.

“I became suspicious when he asked for a deposit, and decided to back off,” he said.

Yunos said he saw the services offered on a WhatsApp message. I also saw a social media posting from someone who claimed he was duped by the man.

“Some people claimed that Haji Ando boasted that he could predict numbers which could rake in as much as RM1 million. But after placing a deposit, the man would disappear,” he said, adding that Haji Ando appeared to still be active on social media.